Warlord bans polio vaccination, calls it a 'cover for U.S. spies' (Fallout from bin Laden tactic)
Islamabad, June 17 (ANI): A top pro-government warlord in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal agency has banned vaccinations in the region, saying the healthcare drive was a cover for U.S. spies.
According to The Express Tribune, warlord Hafiz Gul, who has a non-aggression treaty with Pakistani authorities, made the announcement. Gul believes that the U.S. is playing host to the Haqqani network- the deadly Taliban group blamed for most violence in neighbouring Afghanistan.
"As long as drone strikes are not stopped in Waziristan there will be a ban on administering polio jabs," said a pamphlet distributed in Miramshah, North Waziristan's main town.
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The pamphlet also cited the case of Dr Shakil Afridi, who was sentenced to 33 years of imprisonment by a Pakistani court after he was found 'guilty' of helping the CIA track down Osama bin Laden through a vaccination drive in Abbottabad, last year.
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/06/17/86-N-Waziristan-warlord-bans-polio-vaccination-calls-it-a-cover-for-U-S-spies-.html
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The US used polio administering personnel as spies to locate bin Laden. It was criticized at the time for the very reason we are seeing now. Humanitarian aid should not be used as an instrument of war or covert operations. Distrust is fomented and children suffer.
